Xi, Macron meet amid China’s row with Japan over Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping began talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Beijing on Thursday, state-run media said, with the two leaders expected to discuss Taiwan and efforts toward a peace deal in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Their meeting came as Beijing advances its narratives in the international community amid a diplomatic row with Tokyo over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks last month that suggested Japan could respond if Taiwan comes under attack.
China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory, has responded harshly to Japan, saying the Taiwan issue is purely an internal matter. In late November, Xi underlined Beijing’s position on Taiwan in telephone talks with United States President Donald Trump.
G7 invitation
Macron, who is on his fourth state visit to China, is considering inviting Xi to the Group of 7 summit next year to be hosted by France, according to media reports.
G7 countries, including the US and Japan, have repeatedly expressed their opposition to China’s attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Beijing aims to bring Taiwan into its fold, by force if necessary.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said Beijing is ready to work with Paris to “advance closer multilateral cooperation” and contribute more to promoting the stable development of relations between the Asian country and the European Union.
On Wednesday, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi stressed the “serious dangers” posed by Takaichi’s “erroneous remarks” on Taiwan during his talks with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot. He expressed hope that Paris will continue to understand and support Beijing’s “legitimate position” on the matter, according to the ministry.
Wang said China and France should “never allow” attempts by Japan to “exploit the Taiwan question to stir up trouble and repeat the mistakes of history,” the ministry added.
Three-day trip
During his three-day trip through Friday, the French leader will also visit Chengdu, the capital of the southwestern Sichuan Province, where a pair of giant pandas returned last month after 13 years in France.
Xi will reportedly join Macron on the visit to Chengdu. Macron is being accompanied by French business leaders from such sectors as energy and aviation, as well as his wife Brigitte.
Macron last visited China in April 2023. At that time, he met Xi together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
